Jensen Huang’s Korea Visit Sparks Talk of Seongsu Pork-Belly Dinner With Business Leaders

Interest is building in South Korea’s semiconductor and information-technology industries as Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang is set to visit the country this week.

Yonhap News reported on June 1 that Huang is due to arrive in South Korea on the evening of June 4 after completing key events in Taiwan, including Nvidia’s annual artificial-intelligence conference, GTC Taipei. His Korea schedule is expected to begin in earnest on June 5.

Huang is poised to meet leaders of major Korean companies to discuss cooperation in AI semiconductors, robotics and physical AI. Potential attendees include SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and Naver Global Investment Officer Lee Hae-jin. Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung is also said to be positively considering attending. Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee is not expected to join because of an overseas trip.

A pork-belly restaurant in Seoul’s Seongsu-dong has emerged as the leading candidate for the gathering. An employee at the restaurant said Nvidia had made a tentative reservation and planned to finalize it after confirming the number of attendees.

If the meeting takes place, there is also interest in whether the group will share grilled pork belly with soju and beer, a combination commonly known in Korea as “samgyeopsal somaek.” Some in the industry view the event as a continuation of the so-called “Kkanbu meeting” in October 2025, when Huang met Lee and Chung at a chicken restaurant in Seoul’s Samseong-dong.

Huang’s eldest daughter, Madison Huang, Nvidia’s senior director of product marketing for Omniverse and robotics, was said to have been involved in preparations for the Korea trip. She was also reported to have arranged last year’s “Kkanbu meeting.”

A visit to Naver is also under discussion. Huang is considering a trip to the Naver 1784 building in Bundang, Seongnam, with June 8 cited as the most likely date. Naver 1784 is regarded as a hub for future technologies including robots, cloud, digital twins and a dedicated 5G network.

Naver and Nvidia said they had nothing to confirm for now on a detailed schedule or agenda.

Huang is also said to be considering throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at a Doosan Bears home game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul and holding a meeting with Korean businesspeople at the Shilla hotel.

Before arriving in Korea, Huang is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at GTC Taipei in Taiwan on June 1. He is also set to attend a “Korea Partner Night” dinner with representatives of major Korean companies later that evening.

Shin Hyun-bo, Hankyung.com reporter greaterfool@hankyung.com